Riding-saddle



(No Model.)

V. D. HART.

RIDING SADDLE.

Patented Sept. 6, 1892.

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NITE STATES ATENT Trice.

VERNON D. HART, OF ADDISON, IVEST VIRGINIA.

RIDING-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,945, datedSeptember 6, 1892.

Application tiled December 16, 1891. Serial No. 415,245. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, VERNON D. HART, a citizen of the United States,residing at Addison, in the county of Webster and State of WestVirginia, have invented a new and useful Combination Riding-Saddle, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in saddles, the objects in Viewbeing to provide what might be properly termed a combination-saddle7 andto so construct the same as to be readily adapted for use as an ordinaryriding-saddle, a herding-saddle, or as a sidesaddle.

Afurther object of the invention is to so construct the saddle as toincrease the strength and durability of the same and to render greatercomfort to the rider or occupant.

Other objects and advantages -of the invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure lis a perspective of a saddleconstructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 isa side elevationand partial section of the same. Fig. 3 isa front elevation. Fig.tisarear elevation.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

In practicing my invention I employ a pairv of opposite longitudinallydisposed halfround straight wooden bars 1, connecting them near theirfront ends by a pommel-arch 2, beyond the lower end of which the bars 1extend, thus constituting a tree. The pommel arch at its rear edge isrecessed, as at 3, which recess is partially filled by ametallic archedconnecting-strap 1t, secured to the arch of the pommel and to theopposite sides 1 of the tree.

5 designates the cant-le of the saddle, the same being half-round orsemicircular, as is usual, and is secured to and embraces the oppositeside bars 1 near their rear ends. To thelower front corners of thecantle-extension depending sections 6 are secured or hinged, by means ofthe leather covering of the cantle or otherwise, if desired, and betweenthe ends of the cantle and the upper ends of the sections there areinterposed V-shaped springplates 7, which yieldingly support thecantlesections in line with the cantle. The utility of these extensionsand their advantages may be readily recognized in that it will be seenthat the rider seated in the saddle has his legs partially supported bythe cantle-sections, which yield to any great pressure and serve todiminish the jar from horse to rider, whereby considerable comfort isexperienced by both.

The metal strap 4L is provided at its apex with a perforation 11, and atopposite sides of the same with a pair of forwardly-disposed prongs 12.This strap 4, which, as before stated, covers the bottom of the recess3, is embraced by a removable inverted-U -shaped pommel-horn 13, theopposite ends of which terminate in loops or eyes 13', which removablyengage the before-mentioned prongs 12. The pommel-arch embracing-plate 4has a threaded opening l1, and the same registers with a correspondingopening formed at the center of the pommel-horn 13 and the horn 14Erising therefrom, and passing through the said perforations is a pin 16,threaded at its lower end to removably engage with the pommel-archembracing-strap 4.

It will be seen from the above that by means of the pin 1G the horn 14,so essentialin herding cattle, may be applied to the saddle and rigidlylocked thereon, and that by removing the pin 16 from the horn the hornand its support may be removed from the saddle, and thus the latter leftas an ordinary ridingsaddle.

I have further provided an attachment for the saddle, adapted to be usedeither with or without the horn, whereby it is adapted for ladies use;or, in other words, the saddle is converted into what is commonly termeda side-saddle.

In constructing the attachment I employ a side bar 1S, which has itsrear end recessed, as at 19, so as to embrace the right side of thecantle. The front end of the bar 18 is connected to a supporting-horn20, of substantially- L shape, and a series of curved Wires, forming aguard 21, are connected at their front ends to the supporting-horn 20,and at their rear ends are connected to a pintle 22. The opposite endsof the pintle are connected pivotally to a V-shaped eye 23, the angle ofwhich is shaped to form a neck 24, designed to embrace a headed stud 25,extending from the IOO rear side of the cantle. To the horn 2O there ispivoted, as at 26, a hook 27, the free end of which is swung intoengagement with an eye 2S, projecting from the pommel-arch 2 of thesaddle.

In applying the attachment for converting the saddle into What iscommonly termed a sidesaddle the Widest portion of the eye 23 is firstintroduced over the headed stud 25 and the eye drawn outwardly, so thatits narrow neck portion 2t embraces the stud. The attachment is nowswung to the front until the inner end of the horn 2O abuts against thepommel-arch, after which the hook 27 is swung into engagement with theeye 2S. It Will be seen that the attachment when in position affords aconvenient and comfortable support for the rider,who mounts in the usualWay, the right knee resting between the horn 20 and the pommel-arch andthe lower extremity of the limb passing across the shoulders of thehorse.

In order to prevent any possible soiling of the habit of the rider, ashield 29, ot' leather or other material of a suitable nature, may haveits ends secured to the opposite sides of the tree and its intermediateportion arched over the neck of the animal. A support is thus furnishedfor the entire length ot' the limb and the security of the rider greatlyincreased.

Having described my invention, what I claim isl. The herein-describedimproved saddle, the same comprising a cantle, cantle sections orextensions hinged at their front upper corners to the front lowercorners of the cantle and depending therefrom, and springs for normallysupporting the extensions in line with the cantle, substantially asspecified.

2. The herein-described improved saddle, the same comprising theopposite side bars, the arched cantle embracing and secured to the same,the cantle sections or extensions, the leather hinges connecting thesections at their upper front corners to the lower front corners of thecantle, and the V-shaped metal springs interposed between the meetingedges of the cantle and the sections, substantially as specified.

3. The herein-described improved saddle, the same comprising theopposite side bars, the pommel-arch connecting the side bars,and theinverted- U -shaped pom mel removably mounted on the arch and providedwith a horn, substantially as specified.

4. The herein-described improved saddle, the same consisting of theopposite sides, the recessed pommel-arch connecting the two, theinverted- U -shaped metal straps embracing the recess and having thecentral threaded opening and its ends terminating in loops, prongsmounted on the metal strap with which the loops engage, a hornperforated longitudinally and rising from the pommel, and a pin passedremovably through the horn and threaded in the pom mel-arch embracingmetal strap, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with the saddle comprising the inverted-U-shapedcantle, of the described improved side-saddle attachment, the sameconsisting of an L-shaped horn, a curved guard secured at its front endto the horn, and devices for removably connecting the rear end of thecurved guard to the can- 'tle of the saddle and the horn to the side oflthe same, substantially as specified.

6. The combination, with the saddle, the stud located at the rear endthereof and the eye at the front end, of the herein-describedattachment, consisting of the bar 18, recessed at its rear end toembrace the cantle, the L- shaped supporting-horn 20, connected to thefront end of the bar, the hook pivoted to the horn and adapted to engagethe eye of the saddle, the curved guard 2l, secured at its front end tothe'horn, the pintle connected to the rear end of the guard; and theV-shaped eye 23, pivoted at its terminals to the pintle and at its angleprovided with the reduced neck for engaging the stud of. the saddle,substantially as specified.

7. The combination, with the saddle comprising the inverted- U shapedcantle, the side attachment connected to the pom mel and cantle andconsisting of a curved guard, and an L-shaped supporting-horn at thefront end of the same, of the shield 29, secured to the front of thesaddle, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

VERNON D. HART. lVitnesses:

C. W. BENEDUM, J. C. ELBoN.

